Sox Fans Giveclueto Ticket Theft

September 04, 1985|By Dave Schneidman.

A stakeout by State of Illinois Center security police of reserved seats at a White Sox baseball game has led to the arrest of two men suspected in a series of thefts at the new building, according to authorities.

Arrested Thursday were Michael Walden, 27, of 1937 N. Monticello Ave., a former employee of the janitorial service hired by the state office building, and Mark Loynes, 27, 1918 N. Drake Ave. Walden was charged with theft, and Loynes was charged with theft and sale and possession of stolen property.

Authorities charged that Loynes had scalped White Sox tickets stolen from a desk in the Illinois secretary of state`s offices on the 5th floor of the building, at 100 W. Randolph St.

The building`s security police said that after the 22 reserved-seat tickets were stolen, officers put the seats under surveillance and questioned those who used them.

Security police said the ticket-holders identified Loynes as the seller. Loynes, in turn, told authorities he bought the tickets from Walden, an acquaintance, according to Lt. Robert Martin of the building`s security staff. Spokesmen for the building said that 18 of the unused tickets have been recovered and that the pair are under investigation in connection with numerous other thefts in the building over the last several months.

Martin said that among other items pilfered from the building are radios, tape recorders, calculators, fans, lamps, telephones and a small refrigerator. Among the chief critics of the State of Illinois Center is Atty. Gen. Neil Hartigan, and a spokesman for Hartigan said Tuesday: ``We view it not so much a fault of the security staff but rather that the design of the building does not lend itself to easily provide for security.

``Because of the openness of the office, anyone can walk through the building at any time looking at files or stealing. More importantly, many of our female employees express apprehension about working at night because of the openness of their desks and offices.``

A spokesman for Secretary of State Jim Edgar said, ``I have no problem with the building as far as theft is concerned. I don`t believe there are any more thefts in the State of Illinois Center than there are in other large Loop buildings. But I am concerned about the security of female employees working late at night.``

Walden has been fired by I.S.S. Maintenance, the company that has the janitorial contract at the c.